Patrick eyes major transportation overhaul

BOSTON — Gov. Deval Patrick said Thursday he'll unveil a proposed restructuring of the state's transportation system before asking motorists to pay more to use Massachusetts highways.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

BOSTON — Gov. Deval Patrick said Thursday he'll unveil a proposed restructuring of the state's transportation system before asking motorists to pay more to use Massachusetts highways.

The Massachusetts Turnpike Authority board is scheduled to vote next Thursday on toll increases in the Boston Harbor tunnels and on the turnpike inside Route 128. The MTA has already scheduled three public hearings on "toll structure changes."

Patrick, in an interview on WBUR-FM, said he'll announce a "comprehensive transportation strategy" before then.

"Before we go to the public for some of these ideas that have been put out there — higher gas taxes or higher tolls and so forth beyond what we're required to do by the bonds — we have got to get greater efficiencies out of the infrastructure we have right now. That's what this initiative is about," he said.

A Patrick spokeswoman would not immediately provide details on the proposal, including whether it would require legislative approval.

"Any governor who is interested in implementing a comprehensive transportation strategy would not be able to do so with the current configuration of bureaucracies we have," Patrick said.

A transportation finance report released Sept. 17 recommended an 11.5-cent hike in the state gas tax and a new 5-cent per mile highway "user fee."

Patrick said a user fee, which would involve a tracking system, is "10 years off," and he's repeatedly said he doesn't favor increasing the gas tax.

He said Thursday that another idea, to install toll booths at the New Hampshire and Connecticut borders, at least for motorists entering the state, is "on the table," as are other proposals that he did not specify.

"All of us are going to have to start appreciating that we have a stake and a responsibility for our time and for the next generation to reinvest in our infrastructure," he said.

The recommendations in the transportation report are designed to help close a gaping $15 to $19 billion hole in the state's transportation spending over the next 20 years.

Other proposals in the plan include: Studying the privatization of some roads and bridges; and eliminating paid police details on road and bridge construction projects, replacing them with civilian flagmen.

Last week, turnpike officials said toll increases projected since 1999 won't cover growing expenses for the agency. Among them are the cost of bonds to pay for the Big Dig project, as well as health insurance costs that have jumped by double-digit amounts annually.

One option is to double the toll to pass through the Boston Harbor tunnels — from $3 to $6 per vehicle — while also hiking tolls on the turnpike inside Route 128.

Transportation Secretary Bernard Cohen, who is chairman of the MTA board, delayed a vote and asked agency officials to research ways to cut costs.

A vote appears likely next Thursday. In legal notices published Thursday the authority announced three public hearings on toll structure changes within Route 128. The hearings are Oct. 9 in East Boston, Oct. 10 in Newton, and Oct. 12 in Framingham.

In Worcester on Wednesday, Lt. Gov. Tim Murray also previewed the announcement, saying in a speech at Mechanics Hall that "You will see some exciting ideas and proposals in a few short days ahead that will free up resources and free up the backlog," he said, according to a report in the Worcester Telegram & Gazette. The backlog referred to the gap in funding from the transportation finance report.